Turkey’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) surpassed purchases of pipeline gas for the first time ever in March, Kallanish Energy reports.
Data released by the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) late last week showed LNG imports increased by 8.2% year-on-year and accounted for 52.5% of the total gas imports that month.
Some 2.06 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of LNG were imported, compared to 1.87 Bcm of gas supplied by pipelines. The figures reflect Turkey took advantage of low spot LNG prices, while keeping volumes from pipeline contracts to the minimum required.
As LNG becomes more competitive than piped gas supplies, imports from Russia – traditionally Turkey’s major gas supplier – declined 72% y-o-y to 389 million cubic meters (Mmcm). Flows from Iran were also affected, dropping 33% to 537 Mmcm. The bulk of pipeline gas imports came from Azerbaijan, at 924 Mmcm.
Meanwhile, LNG imports from the U.S. were up 300% at 370 Mmcm. Qatar was the biggest supplier of spot LNG cargos, which amounted to imports of 786 Mmcm. Other cargoes were from Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon and Egypt.
This post appeared first on Kallanish Energy News.